The Constitution supported.

"I care not a whit what passes as 'civilized' in England or New Zealand; let their citizens seek their own path toward freedom. In America, we have the Constitution."

Anthony Scalia.

That is the right of it. You would have to read this whole article but it is outstanding in supposing of gun ownership. BTW. The Second amendment does not specify; and is very clear, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; In other words If you are a citizen of the US, no matter your legal or criminal background, you have the right to keep and bear arms is inviolate, no matter how much intellectualized. I personally consider all who argue against any but law abiding citizens; the right to keep and bear arms, are arguing an unconstitutional point. Their is no restraint to be placed on the citizenry anywhere by any level of local, state, or federal government.

The following excerpt is an example of documents from old English bill of rights and is likely where these so called intellectuals get the idea that the cut and dried is not cut and dried.

Whereas the late King James the Second by the Assistance of diverse
evill Councellors Judges and Ministers imployed by him did endeavour to subvert
and extirpate the Protestant Religion and the Lawes and Liberties of this
Kingdome (list of grievances including) ... by causing severall good Subjects
being Protestants to be disarmed at the same time when Papists were both Armed
and Imployed contrary to Law, (Recital regarding the change of monarch) ...
thereupon the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons pursuant to their
respective Letters and Elections being now assembled in a full and free
Representative of this Nation takeing into their most serious Consideration the
best meanes for attaining the Ends aforesaid Doe in the first place (as their
Auncestors in like Case have usually done) for the Vindicating and Asserting
their ancient Rights and Liberties, Declare (list of rights including) ... That
the Subjects which are Protestants may have Arms for their Defence suitable to
their Conditions and as allowed by Law.[11]

• 
  In America the original intent of the second amendment is seen by the citizenry like this.
  
  *deterring undemocratic government;
  *repelling invasion;
  *suppressing insurrection;
  *facilitating a natural right of self-defense;
  *participating in law enforcement; posse comitatis(look it up)
  *enabling the people to organize a militia system,
  
  The second amendment:
  
  A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, being the best security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; but no one religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person.
  
  I want to make note about Posse comitatis as it applies to Sheriffs. Under this law the Sheriffs have the right to call out every able bodied male able to carry a firearm to own a firearm and bring with them for the purposes of forming a "Posse"; which is enabled to hunt down fugitives....
  
  FAR to cool!
  
  reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution